Beschrijving:Twelve minutes after takeoff from Zhdanov (now Mariupol), at height of 4200 m, strong oscillations in pitch and a roll occurred. The plane suffered big vertical and lateral loadings and descended to 2750 m. After 38 seconds it disintegrated in mid-air. During repairs at a military maintenance facility, two wires on the electrical circuit of the back-up yaw damper had been cross-wired. The main yaw-damper performed uneventful. On the accident flight however the plane passed through a zone of strong turbulence. The back-up yaw damper then kicked in, sending wrong commands to the elevator and the ailerons.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Networkĺs opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.